The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) of Türkiye delivered this week's Friday sermon across mosques nationwide, emphasizing that the knowledge of the unseen belongs solely to Allah and warning against superstition, fortune-telling, and the exploitation of religious beliefs for financial gain.

Titled “The Knowledge of the Unseen Belongs Only to Allah,” the sermon took aim at a range of practices it deems sinful and exploitative, including magic, sorcery, fortune-telling, and the commercial misuse of religious rituals, urging Muslims to reject these in favor of authentic Islamic teachings.

The Diyanet’s message began by painting a vivid picture of the contemporary landscape, noting the persistence of “soothsayers, fortune-tellers, mediums, amulet-makers, and charlatans” who prey on people’s emotions and earnings for personal gain. It singled out certain television channels and digital platforms for criticism, accusing them of providing a stage for these “evildoers” to thrive. “In today’s khutbah, let us remember and remind ourselves of how our sublime religion, Islam, views these matters,” the sermon declared, setting the stage for a detailed theological critique.

Central to the Diyanet’s argument was the assertion that magic and sorcery are “grave sins” in Islam. Quoting the Prophet Muhammad, the sermon cited his warning: “Avoid destructive sins such as associating partners with Allah and practicing magic.” It described such acts as not only a betrayal of the core Islamic belief in tawhid—monotheism—but also a violation of tawakkul, or complete trust in Allah’s will. “Engaging in or resorting to magic and sorcery is a violation of people’s rights and an act of oppression,” the statement elaborated, adding that those who perpetrate these acts face divine wrath unless they repent sincerely and seek forgiveness from those they’ve wronged.

The sermon also addressed the role of jinn, supernatural beings recognized in Islamic theology as servants of Allah, with both believers and non-believers among them. However, it firmly rejected any notion that jinn possess insight into the future, emphasizing a Qur’anic verse: “To Allah ˹alone˺ belongs the knowledge of what is hidden in the heavens and the earth.” The Diyanet dismissed claims by individuals purporting to communicate with jinn for knowledge of the unseen as “outright lies,” urging Muslims instead to seek refuge in Allah from the evils of both humans and jinn. It recommended frequent recitation of Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas—two short Qur’anic chapters known as the “protection surahs”—as advised by the Prophet for safeguarding against harm.

Expanding its critique, the Diyanet condemned all forms of fortune-telling, from reading coffee grounds, tea leaves, or salt to interpreting cards, horoscopes, palms, or facial features. It labeled these practices as “evil of Satan’s handiwork,” quoting another Qur’anic verse, and declared them haram (forbidden) and sinful. The sermon warned that disseminating such falsehoods—whether through television broadcasts, newspaper columns, or social media posts—carries “heavy accountability” in the eyes of Allah. It reinforced this with a stark prophetic saying: “Whoever rejects what Allah has revealed and goes to a soothsayer or fortune-teller and believes in their words has disbelieved in what was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.”

The Diyanet also tackled the misuse of sacred texts and rituals for profit, a practice it said has “no place in our religion.” While acknowledging the Qur’an as “a healing and mercy for the believers,” it stressed that its verses and prophetic supplications are meant for recitation, understanding, and personal application—not for exploitation. Writing Qur’anic verses on paper or blowing over people as a paid service was explicitly denounced. “The solution to both our individual and societal struggles lies within [the Qur’an],” the sermon affirmed, encouraging Muslims to pair medical treatment with prayer for physical and spiritual relief.

In a pointed clarification, the Diyanet distinguished between legitimate religious figures and impostors. “Those who practice magic and sorcery are sorcerers. Those who engage with jinn are jinn-conjurers. Those who tell fortunes are fortune-tellers. Those who write amulets for personal gain are amulet-makers. Those who claim to heal by blowing over people are charlatans,” it stated. These individuals, it warned, should not be confused with hodjas—respected Islamic scholars seen as heirs to the Prophet Muhammad. Misrepresenting such frauds as religious authorities, the sermon cautioned, risks legitimizing and spreading these forbidden acts.

The Diyanet linked the prevalence of such “false beliefs and superstitions” to a lack of firm faith in tawhid and a solid grounding in religious knowledge. It argued that this underscores “the absolute necessity of authentic and correct religious knowledge” and the critical role of education based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. The sermon also debunked specific superstitions, such as claims by some to distribute water in which the Prophet’s hair or beard was supposedly washed, calling these invitations to gatherings bid‘ah—unwarranted innovations in religion.

In its closing appeal, the Diyanet called on believers to stay alert to those who exploit Islam’s values and manipulate emotions. “Let us never be deceived by superstitious individuals who cannot even cure their own ailments or heal their own illnesses,” it urged, rejecting reliance on such figures for healing, success, or sustenance. Instead, it encouraged fulfilling personal responsibilities and trusting in Allah alone, concluding with a Qur’anic promise: “…And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them…” (ILKHA)